Bus blast: Investigation fixes blame on driver, owner

ISLAMABAD:

Initial investigation into the Tuesday bus blast due to CNG leakage put the blame on the owner and the bus driver. Police arrested the driver, Qamaruz Zaman, on Wednesday but the owner of the bus, Saqib, was still at large till last reports came in.

Police said the driver had escaped the bus moments before it caught fire and went into hiding. He was traced and arrested from his native town of Kalar Seyadan, police said. However, the owner of the van was not at his house.

“His family assured us that he would be produced before the police on Thursday,” said a police official. He added that the owner’s negligence over maintenance of the CNG kit fitted in the bus was responsible for the accident.

Nine people were burnt alive while five other were badly burnt in the explosion.

Explosives’ experts suggested that the improper and faulty installation of the gas kit in the bus was to be blamed for gas leakage, resulting in the accident. “The incident could have been avoided if the kit had been installed properly.”

Police and explosives’ experts ruled out the possibility that the fire was caused by a cylinder blast. Police officials said they were hoping to know about the company that installed the gas kit through the owner. “The owner of the bus would be able to provide details on the company [that installed the gas kit],” said a police official. He said that police’s first target was the owner who was hiding somewhere in his native town of Kalar Sayedan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2011.